President Duterte explained that despite the speedy rise of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the country, the government cannot simply close down the economy again because it would be a disaster for the Philippines.
Duterte made the statement after he approved placing the National Capital Region (NCR), Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal under a general community quarantine (GCQ) bubble from March 22 to April 4 to arrest the spike in COVID-19 cases.
In his weekly public address on Monday evening, President Duterte noted the volume of people going to malls and markets, particularly in Divisoria, but said they cannot impose another economic lockdown as it would spell disaster for the country.
"So kung sarahan mo naman 'yan lahat-- medyo tagilid na ang ekonomiya (If you close it all-- our economy is not good) and that is a problem," he said.
"It would be a disaster for our country. Kung sarahan mo talaga lahat (If you will really close everything down), it would be a disaster for the country," he added.
The President said that the government is trying its best to balance the situation by limiting the movement of the people, something, according to him, is well within the power of the State.
"Balance-balance na lang tayo tutal maliit pa naman ito (Let's just balance everything for after all the number of cases is still small), it's a small--not really small but ah... Not so many are being affected in the sense that your movements are being curtailed," Duterte said.
"The curtailment of your freedom to travel is always subject to the power of the State to control the movement, putting you at the right places at the right time at this time," he added.
Metro Manila, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, and Rizal, collectively known as the NCR+, are under a GCQ bubble wherein non-essential travel going in and outside the bubble is prohibited.
Only authorized persons outside their residences will be allowed to enter and exit the bubble.
During the two-week bubble period, mass gatherings are prohibited and some businesses will be operating at a limited capacity. Public transportation, however, will remain operational.